{"id":40623,"date":"2025-11-29T19:56:27","date_gmt":"2025-11-30T00:56:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/?p=40623"},"modified":"2025-11-29T19:56:32","modified_gmt":"2025-11-30T00:56:32","slug":"seven-days-in-may-1964-screenplay-by-rod-serling-directed-by-john-frankenheimer-starring-burt-lancaster-kirk-douglas-fredric-march-and-ava-gardner-z-view","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/?p=40623","title":{"rendered":"“Seven Days in May” (1964) screenplay by Rod Serling, directed by John Frankenheimer, starring Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Fredric March and Ava Gardner \/ Z-View"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Seven Days in May <\/strong><\/em>(1964)<\/p>\n

Director: John Frankenheimer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Screenplay: Rod Serling;\u00a0<\/strong>based on SEVEN DAYS IN MAY<\/a> by Fletcher Knebel, Charles W. Bailey II<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stars: Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Fredric March, Ava Gardner, Edmond O’Brien, Martin Balsam, Andrew Duggan, Hugh Marlowe, Whit Bissell, Helen Kleeb, George Macready, Richard Anderson, Bart Burns, John Alban, Al Bain, John Houseman, Ferris Webster, Kent McCord <\/strong>and Malcolm Atterbury.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tagline:\u00a0 “I’m suggesting Mr President, there’s a military plot to take over the Government of these United States, next Sunday…”<\/i><\/p>\n

The Plot\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Set during the Cold War.\u00a0 President Jordan Lyman’s popularity is at an all-time low. He’s just signed a nuclear disarmament treaty with Russia.\u00a0 Many believe the Russians can’t be trusted.\u00a0 Protests across the country have grown violent.\u00a0 Some fear that Russia will renig on the treaty leaving the US unprotected.\u00a0 Others think that if both countries don’t begin to disarm at some point the nukes will be used.<\/p>\n

General James Mattoon Scott is the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.\u00a0 He’s a highly popular, highly decorated Air Force Ace.\u00a0 Colonel Martin “Jiggs” Casey is the Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.\u00a0 His role is to assist the Joint Chiefs, particularly General Scott.\u00a0 Privately, neither think Russia can be trusted to keep their part of the disarmament treaty.<\/p>\n

Colonel Casey notices some strange messages left for General Mattoon.\u00a0 This leads to his discovery that in seven days General Mattoon and several other military leaders plan a coup.\u00a0 They plan to overthrow the President and take control of the government.<\/p>\n

Colonel Casey speaks to the President in private.\u00a0 At first the President can’t believe it.\u00a0 But the evidence is there.\u00a0 Unsure of who they can trust, the President, a few trusted aides and Colonel Casey must find a way to stop a coup led by the most popular military leader of the era.<\/p>\n

The clock is ticking.<\/p>\n

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)\u2026\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Seven Days in May was nominated for two 1965 Academy Awards…<\/p>\n